GREY DUCK

Evening Post, Volume CXXVI, Issue 98, 22 October 1938, Page 14

GREY DUCK

STEPS TO CONSERVE

ACCLIMATISATION PROBLEM

Steps proposed for the conservation of grey duck and game in general were discussed by the North Island Acclimatisations Societies Council yesterday afternoon. Mr, F. E. McKenzie (Auckland) presided.

The Minister's suggestion that ways and means be found of trapping old ducks beyond the breeding age should be systematically undertaken by societies was fully discussed for some time but no satisfactory plan could be formulated, and delegates were instructed to consult with their executives and rangers with a view to forwarding suggestions to the council for further consideration at an early date.

It was decided to advise societies that the duck population must be very closely watched and reported on every year by the societies, and the council must be prepared to discuss a closed or restricted season at any time after the next two years, if the evidence renders such a course necessary, and societies must endeavour to arrange their finance so that not more than two years' warning should be necessary.

It was reported that Dr. Anson had requested the Minister of Internal Affair (the Hon. W. E. Parry) to arrange a conference with the Minister of Lands to endeavour to conserve certain swamps and the duck weed which normally gives water feed to ducks and which is now destroyed by grazing cattle. There were many swamps, it was pointed out, which were let on grazing leases at nominal rentals only, which are stripped during the winter.

Delegates were urged to interview individual societies and see if it were possible to provide natural feed on sanctuaries controlled by them. Most of the lakes had marginal areas which could be planted with suitable duck weeds. Fencing could be undertaken in certain areas. A long term scheme should be 'inaugurated.

The institution of a gun licence was discussed, and societies are to be asked to make an estimate of the revenue if gun licences were issued. In the meantime the present system ■of game licences is to be continued.

Societies are to be allowed to fix their own licence fees as at present, persons entering a district where the licence fee is higher than their own to pay the difference.

The/date of the opening of the shooting season will in future be the first Saturday of May.

The question of vermin control was discussed," and the rates to be paid for hawks' feet, stoats, weasels, and polecats, etc., were fixed.

Mr. D. F. Hobbs, the biologist of the Marine Department, answered a number of questions by the chairman on subjects related to the welfare of trout.